Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Combining Solid-state and Solution-based Techniques: Synthesis and Reactivity of Chalcogenidoplumbates(II or IV)
Published on: December 29, 2016
Ternary arsenides A2Zn5As4 (A = K, Rb): zintl phases built from stellae quadrangulae
Stanislav S Stoyko1, Mansura Khatun, Arthur Mar
1Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G2.
Abstract:
Stoichiometric reaction of the elements at high temperature yields the ternary arsenides K(2)Zn(5)As(4) (650 °C) and Rb(2)Zn(5)As(4) (600 °C). They adopt a new structure type (Pearson symbol oC44, space group Cmcm, Z = 4; a = 11.5758(5) Å, b = 7.0476(3) Å, c = 11.6352(5) Å for K(2)Zn(5)As(4); a = 11.6649(5) Å, b = 7.0953(3) Å, c = 11.7585(5) Å for Rb(2)Zn(5)As(4)) with a complex three-dimensional framework of linked ZnAs(4) tetrahedra generating large channels that are occupied by the alkali-metal cations. An alternative and useful way of describing the structure is through the use of stellae quadrangulae each consisting of four ZnAs(4) tetrahedra capping an empty central tetrahedron. These compounds are Zintl phases; band structure calculations on K(2)Zn(5)As(4) and Rb(2)Zn(5)As(4) indicate semiconducting behavior with a direct band gap of 0.4 eV.
Related Concept Videos
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability. Many...
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Coordination Number and Geometry
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...

